'Cooperation' key to resolving Indo-Bangla differences

Cooperation between India and Bangladesh could resolve the bilateral differences linked to terrorism, migration, border and environment, a top Bangladeshi official said here on Sunday, underlining that the relationship between the two neighbours was on the right path.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's foreign affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi said various governments had tried to resolve bilateral issues through confrontations and suspicion.

"But they did not succeed," he underlined. "Only cooperation, not confrontation could resolve the persisting issues centering (on) poverty, terrorism, migration, border and environment etc that guide the bilateral relation of the two countries, he was quoted as saying by Star online, the website of The Daily Star newspaper.

Speaking at an international seminar on Indo-Bangla relations at Dhaka University, he said confrontations and suspicion that previously characterised relations between the two countries did not bring about any good.

He told the participants, including Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and India High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter, that Hasina's landmark January visit to India last year set the foundation of the future Indo-Bangla relation.

The two-day seminar titled "Bangladesh-India relations in the age of globalisation: Post-prime ministerial summit conference" seeks to analyse the recent visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka.

During the September 6-7 visit of Singh, India and Bangladesh inked various pacts, including a long-term Comprehensive Framework Agreement on Cooperation and Development that sets out the vision, principles and modalities of bilateral relationship, provides a structure and identify priorities to the ties.

However, the failure to sign a deal on Teesta water sharing cast a shadow over the two-day visit. India has expressed the hope that the two neighbours would be able arrive at an agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta.